Oakland A's and Jarrod Parker roughed up by Padres

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Monday's 10-0 A's loss to the San Diego Padres was a game that won't last long in manager Bob Melvin's memory banks. Oakland managed just four hits, its pitchers got hammered and the only real offensive rally was killed by a pickoff.

That said, Melvin wasn't displeased with starter Jarrod Parker's second outing of the spring -- and neither was Parker -- despite the fact that the second-year right-hander gave up six hits and five runs in four innings, including a pair of solo homers.

"I actually thought he threw the ball pretty well," said Melvin of Parker. "He probably just didn't locate his fastball and they ambushed him on some early first-pitch fastballs. But it wasn't like he was behind all the time or wasn't crisp. He just got hit, and you don't see that very often with him."

Parker agreed that it was simply the Padres' day at the plate and didn't concern himself too much about getting knocked around a bit.

"It was either a hit early or an out early, so you take what you can out of it," Parker said. "I got rhrough four even though it's only my second time out this spring. I'm happy just getting through the fourth and start to build up that arm strength."

Parker's also happy that he has gone through six innings in two outings and has yet to issue a walk. In spring training a year ago, Parker's mechanics were a bit of a mess and he walked 13 hitters in 11 innings before finally finding himself at the start of the regular season.

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"Once I got back to simple mechanics, I feel like I'm kind of past that stuff now," he said ."I don't think about it too much. I feel like I was pitching pretty free today. I haven't thrown any curveballs yet and I usually use a ton of them during the year, but I'm sure that'll come along."

As rough as it went for Parker, it was even more grim for left-hander Travis Blackley, who gave up five hits and four runs in 1﻿1/3 innings. As with Parker, Melvin thought Blackley didn't throw the ball all that poorly.

One downer for the A's — their third pitcher, reliever Fernando Rodriguez, had to leave the game after just one batter due to tightness in his elbow. Oakland expects to know more about Rodriguez Tuesday.

Parker said he texted Oakland native and former A's pitcher Tyson Ross Monday morning when he learned that Ross would be pitching against them.

A popular player among the A's players even though he was traded in November for infielder Andy Parrino and pitcher Andrew Werner, Ross threw three scoreless innings against Oakland, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out three.

Before the game, Ross received some ribbing from his new San Diego teammates after getting a little too friendly with his old mates.

"I probably said hello to one too many guys and some of the guys in the bullpen were saying `cut the cord,' " Ross said ."But I couldn't help it, those are my friends, and it was a good time seeing them and facing them. It was definitely different facing the guys in the white cleats instead of wearing them myself."

Ross, who attended Bishop O'Dowd High and Cal, said a change of scenery may have been the best thing for his career.

"It's been huge, it's been great for my confidence," Ross said. "The coaching staff here believes in me. It's a fresh start — new team, new guys -- I'm just really hitting the reset button."

Ross believes a couple of simple mechanical alterations suggested by Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley may be the key to harnessing command that was lacking too often during his time with Oakland. Melvin was impressed with what he saw.

"When he throws the ball over the plate, he's got a chance," Melvin said.

Brett Anderson reported just a bit of day-after stiffness after straining his right trapezius muscle during Sunday's game while trying to cover third base.

Anderson, who came out of the game after just eight pitches, played a little catch Monday and was hoping to throw his normal bullpen session Tuesday ,then make his next scheduled start Friday

Jemile Weeks played five innings in an Athletics minor league game and Melvin said the second baseman, who is nursing a sore shoulder, would probably do likewise Wednesday after a day off with the hope of him returning to the regular lineup Thursday.

Outfielder Michael Taylor, who has been out for 10 days after lacerating his pinkie in a freak dugout accident, took some swings off a tee and is close to returning to batting practice.

Taylor cut his finger on a light fixture while winding up to throw away a piece of gum in the A's Phoenix Muni dugout. Several fixtures in the dugout have now been taped up to prevent a future mishap.